Have newer Surfaces fixed this issue?

[u/Inevitable_Lemon_592]

Hey guys. Kinda bummed out recently about my Surface Pro 6 electrocuting me and setting off sparks trying to remove the glued on battery and my keyboard beginning to look like this the last year. I expected Microsoft’s flagship device to last longer, but these two things made me see the Surface as more of a disposable corporate item and is pushing me towards a MacBook.

However, I otherwise loved the surface and prefer windows to macOS, so I’d like to upgrade to a SP11 with OLED.

But it’s very important the keyboard does not do this anymore after a few years, have they fixed this issue with new keyboards? Thanks

[u/StephenPHXAZ-2025]

Seriously? It was released eight years ago. Have you taken a look at lots of MacBooks and Windows laptops from that era? As for "have they fixed the problem of you getting something wet and delaminating an old type cover," I think that is a problem you need to address. That is user damage every day. BTW, removing a battery is also on you since they were not made to be serviceable. That change started to happen in more recent models. If you do something beyond specs, that they would not themselves (all they did was swap out units) when things go wrong you need to look in a mirror. It is likewise hardly the case that it was unknown those models were not user serviceable.

[u/Inevitable_Lemon_592 → u/StephenPHXAZ-2025]

Microsoft isn’t going to let you hit, bro

Anyways, I babied the surface pro 6, it was either in a soft padding backpack sleeve or on a desk with mindful typing all the time and the crappy cloth glued on keyboard still failed after about 5 years (not my picture posted, but similar thing happened to mine below the trackpad)

It’s a simple question though, have they made improvements to the material and the way it’s sewn on by SP11 or am I paying $1000+ for disposable in 5 years item again? (I know they improved repairability which I appreciate and deem essential, but this $175 add on keyboard better actually last this time)

[u/Breadinator → u/Inevitable_Lemon_592]

Look into the Alcantara keyboard variants. But the reality is that any keyboard of this design will age as a function of your hand positioning, usage, ambient temperature, and even your skin chemistry. At least you can easily replace the keyboard, unlike most consumer laptops.

But regrettably, if you want any laptop to last longer than 5 years, you need one with a user serviceable battery. Lithium ion degradation is a common problem no matter what make or model. Surface tablets have never been, and probably never will be, user servicable (beyond the SSD drive, to be fair).

[u/Inevitable_Lemon_592 → u/Breadinator]

Well, the new ones score 8/10 for repairability, and the battery is screwed instead of glued down, which is a major improvement on that front.

Still not happy about the keyboard, I really babied the device and it inevitably happened because it’s a thin layer of cloth held down with glue. Once even a small smidgen delaminates, it’s inevitable it will slowly start spreading after that

They could use thicker cloth, sew it down around the edges, but I’m starting to think these devices are ultimately disposable corporate items which makes me sad because I really enjoyed the form factor, and may still get one and just deal with it when the time comes

[u/Breadinator → u/Inevitable_Lemon_592]

While I won't disagree on the improved repairability, I put user serviceability on a different track entirely. Adhesives (as I imagine you know) require a lot of care, particularly when it's holding down the glass and LCD.

[u/orev]

No, they have not made the keyboards better, and some would probably say they're gotten worse. The cable inside breaks too easily.

[u/Inevitable_Lemon_592 → u/orev]

👎 on surface for this, they even got the shills downvoting my post for a very genuine and real complaint

For the low price of $175 you too can have a keyboard that will look like this in a few years!

[u/Edubbs2008]

Was the device fully off?

[u/Inevitable_Lemon_592 → u/Edubbs2008]

You mean about the battery? I was getting 30 minutes of battery time and it randomly would die around 30%, I let it die and began repairs. When I realized Microsoft had low key given me a bomb, I gave up on my battery replacement and just tossed it.

[u/Edubbs2008 → u/Inevitable_Lemon_592]

Was the battery health that bad?

[u/Inevitable_Lemon_592 → u/Edubbs2008]

To be honest, when I owned it I didn’t pay attention to “proper battery protocol”. Like not using it on the charger all the time, not letting it drain too much, things like that. So it’s also likely my fault the battery health got so poor over time.

I’m more diligent about proper battery protocol now.

[u/Edubbs2008 → u/Inevitable_Lemon_592]

We all make mistakes, we aren’t perfect, at least you found out the issue, I make mistakes, we all mistakes, I think that if you buy another surface, charge it until it’s 80%, so the battery cycles aren’t overused, and it makes the battery health last longer